BSPMC Treasurer Evangeline Curtina (2nd person from the left) during the technical assistance given by MFA Judith Feliciano

by Maria Dina L. Heramis, Municipal Financial Analyst of Medina, Misamis Oriental

Evangeline Curtina, 59, a Barangay Sub-Project Management Committee (BSPMC) treasurer and a Bids and Awards Committee head of their community, a mother of 6 children who’s willing to sacrifice her own time and efforts for the success of their 300m Farm-to-Market Road community sub-project in Barangay Bangbang, Medina, Misamis Oriental. This is implemented and funded through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) – National Community-Driven Development Program (NCDDP).

This community sub-project, completed in May of 2018, would not have been successful if not for the perseverance and grit of Evangelina and her co-volunteers.

Evangeline said that it was not easy being the BSPMC treasurer, and that it is a big responsibility and very challenging. Despite all the challenges, she is still grateful for the program’s staff that guided the volunteers on the process by providing technical assistance. Evangeline is also thankful for the series of capability trainings which gave her the confidence, skills, and knowledge necessary in handling such responsibility.

She also said “It was not easy to handle this kind of project especially in doing paper works, audits, completion of attachments for the cheque to be released, disbursements and doing fiduciary work. Through these activities I gained knowledge in every transaction that you have to undergo thorough checking.”

Evangeline is also thankful that the program encourages women participation in the workforce during community sub-project construction.

She says “I am thankful for the help of the DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS for all the learning they provided to our community even if we are from a remote area. The opportunity and project implemented in our barangay unites us more.”

Community-Driven Development (CDD) is an approach that gives the community control of the development process, resources and decision making authority and regarded as the best assessors of the needs that their communities. The communities also have the responsibility of implementing, managing, and operating the sub-projects they have planned as well as maintenance.

In the Philippines, CDD is implemented through the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services – National Community-Driven Development Program (Kalahi-CIDSS NCDDP) under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).